Apparatus for cleaning carpets or the like.



M. S. WRIGHT. I APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CARPETS OR THE LIKE.

Patented June 13, 1916.

2 SHEEP-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5. 1912. 1,186,868.

wi /Z??? M. s. WRIGHT. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CARPETS' OR THE LIKE.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG-5. 1912. 1,186,868. I

Patented June 13 2 SHEETS-SHEET & V v 1 v I I. v I H 29 3M8:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.- i

COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING CARPETS OR THE LIKE,

application filed August 5, 1912/ Serial at. 713,309.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Monnrs S. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wor-' cester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Cleaning Carpets or the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an apparatus-for cleaning carpets or the like and more para removable wall for the vacuum chamber,

which said wall takes the form of an inlet nozzle. It is oftentimes necessary to employ a carpet sweeper as well as a vacuum cleaner, for the thorough cleaning of the floor, since while the suction cleaner will take upythe' dust, the same will not at times pick up and remove threads, pins or the like, as will a brush of the ordinary sweeper.

More particularly the invention includes the provision 'of a vacuum cleaner having suction means, a suction chamber, a nozzle having-an inlet openingcommunicating with the chamber, a brush in the nozzle, and a receiver having a dust filtering wall in the suction chamber, the brush being adapted to pick up threads and heavierarticles such as pins, needles and the like and to mechani- 1 why throw the same into said receiver while the lighter particles such as dust'are drawn through the nozzle inlet receiver by the suction means.

In my co-pending application referred to,

, Ihave illustrated a removable nozzle member at the'front end of the vacuum chamber, and means for detachably supporting the Same in positiomand one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a nozzle with brushing instrumentalities associated therewith, the nozzle being of a character whereby the same attaching means for secur ing a brushless nozzle, such as illustrated in the co-pending application, may be employed for supporting the nozzle illustrated in the present application. This makes pos sible the interchange,at will, of the nozzle 'gvith the brush or the nozzle'without the rush.

Further improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of the {various parts will .be more particularly brought out in the detailed description to MORRIS s. WRIGHT, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR TO. m; s. WRIGHT Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1916- follow, which, for a clear understanding of r the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, a convenient embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a side elevation enlarged of the forward end of the apparatus with the sweeper applied, Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus, with parts cut away, Fig. 4 is a detail view, enlarge'd, of parts of the nozzle removed.

With more particular reference to the drawings, wherein corresponding parts are referred to by like reference numerals, 1 is the baseof the apparatus, '2 a removable cover, a horizontally extending wall and 4 a vertlcally extending partition forming with the bottom wallvlcthe sides 1, and hori-.

zontal wall 3 a vacuum chamber 5. Positioned onthe horizontally extending wall 3 is the vacuum creating means 6 preferably operated through the mediumtof pitman 1 rods 7 operatively connected withthetraction wheel or wheels 8, in 'any desired man- 'ner as 'in' my copending application above referred to. The horizontal Wall 3 is provided with an outlet opening 3 communicating with a valve controlled inlet opening 6 in the bottom wall of the pump, and the said pump is provided with a valve controlled outlet opening 6 in the movable wall thereof. A suitable push handle 9 is connected to theapparatus for imparting movement tothe same. A suitable dust receptacle is provided by a filtering bag 10 positioned in the vacuum chamber 5, the recep-' tacle-l0'having atits open mouth a suitable collar 11 upon which are mounted one or more spring arms 12 adapted to abut against.

a suitable abutment 13.011 the inner wallof the vacuum chamber.

A removable frontend wall is provided,

for the vacuum chamber the same being 1ndicated by the numeral 14 and taking the form of a dust inlet nozzle. This nozzle is provided with a brush chamber and said chamber communicates with an opening in.

the lower edge of the nozzle and with an opening in the rear wall of the nozzle which latter communicates with the interior of the dust receptacle. nection is provided between the nozzle and the collar-11 of the dust receptacle whereby to accurately position the nozzle, the said connection of course being readily releasable. The nozzle is preferably yieldably held in'position through the medium of one or more spring arms 16 secured at their upper end at 16 to the outer surface of the nozzle and free at their lower end, and said arms conveniently have a seat 17 intermediate their ends adapted for the reeeption of a swinging bail 18 the side arms of which are pivoted to the sides l 'of the apparatus. A suitable packing 19 is preferably interposed between the nozzle and the end of the apparatus as shown. The sweeper member proper preferably takes the form of a rotary brush 20 mounted upon a suitable shaft 21 projecting at opposite ends through the openings 22in the-sides of the nozzle. These openings 22 are of a size to permit bodily movement of the shaft 21 relative thereto for adjusting purposes as will presently be described. Secured toeach side of the nozzle in any suitable manner as by removable screws 23 are elongated'plates 24 the same projecting at one end rearwardly beyond the nozzle14 whereby to overlie the sides 1 of the apparatus and said plates 24 having openings 24 to register with the openings 22 in 'the sides, of the nozzle. Mounted upon each of the plates 24 is an auxiliary adjusting plate 26the latter being pivotally mounted atits rear end as through a pivot bolt 27 adjacent the rear end of the plate 24 and having a hook part 28 at its forward end adaptedto overlie the stem of.

an adjustable securing bolt 29 threaded to the wall of the nozzle. The adjusting plates 26 are also provided with "oppositely disposed flanges 30 preferably struck up at the top and bottom of the plate thereby forming suitable guide way for journal bearing plates 31 having apertures 30" through which project the ends of the shaft 21. Mounted upon suitable shafts 32 at the rear ends of the supportingplates 24 are suitable being secured at one end to the rear end of.

A dowel and socket conthe journal plate 31 and at an opposite end to the pintle 27, the purpose of which springs is to normally draw the friction wheels 33 and 34 into operativeengagement with one another.

The operation may be reviewed as follows: The removable wall in the form of a combined nozzle and sweeper, is adapted to take the place of the ordinary dust inlet nozzle at the front end of the vacuum chamber. The nozzle is positioned on said front end of the vacuum chamber by simply registering the dowel and socket parts and swing rearward movement to the journal plates 31 in which is mounted the brush shaft 21 and in this way the wheels 34 at the ends of the shaft 21 will be brought into engagement and held in engagement with the wheels 33 to the end that the wheels 34 will be rotated to thereby impart rotary movement to the brush 20. The elongated slot 22 permits of the movement of the brush shaft due to the action of said springs. Also because of the fact that the slot 22 is of a size to permit of vertical adjustment of the shaft 21, it is possible to accurately position the brush 20 relative to the surface, thereby accommodating for wear, etc., and when such adjustment is desired it is only necessary to loosen the bolts 29 and swingthe adjusting plates 26 about their pivot 27 thereby raising or lowering the shaft 21 as desired, and when properly adjusted the plates 24 are locked in position by the securing bolts 29 in a manner that is obvious. The dust laden air and particles taken up by'the brush will be drawn into the receptacle 10 through the medium of the Vacuum created by the pumps superimposed on said chamber, while the heavier materials such as pins will be picked up by the brush and mechanically thrown into the receptacle. In cleaning the apparatus the nozzle with the sweeper attachment is removed by releasing the bail 18, when the dust receptacle 10 may be taken out and relieved of its contents.

What I claim is:

In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a dust box, having a substantially unobstructed openfend, a closure wall for said open end, said closure wallbeing hollow and having a rear opening to communicate with the dust chamber, and a lower edge opening,

albrush positionedwithin said wall and of 'a diameter to project above the lower edge of the rear opening of the closure wall, a traction driving wheel for the brush-earned scribed, the combination of a box like casing forming a vacuum chamber, vacuum creating means, and a vertically extending removable wall for the casing forming a dust inlet nozzle, a traction wheel supported from said removable wall and forming a support for the front end of the casing, a brush within the dust opening of saidwall, an operative drive connection between the brush and traction wheel including an auxiliary wheel connected to the brush and yieldable means for maintaining said wheels in operative engagement.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing having a vacuum chamber, a removable end wall for said casing openat its lower edge to constitute an inlet communicating with the vacuum chamber, a rotatable brush positioned in said end wall and projecting through the lower end thereof, said end wall with the brushing instrumentalities being detachable as a unit to permit of the dischargefof the dust and the like through the end opening of the casing, and adjustable supports at the ends of said end wall for the brush.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing having relatively fixed sides and a rear end Wall, a roller for supporting the casing adjacent the rear end thereof, .a removable vertically extending front wall, said 'front wall having a brush chamber adjacent the lower end, thereof opening out through the bottom of the front walland communicating through an opening in the rear side thereof with the vacuum chamber formed by the casing, and 'a rotary brush having journal bearings on the ends of said front wall and operating through the opening in the bottom of said front .wall, the periphery of the brush being adjacent the lower edge of the vacuum chamber casing opening.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing having relatively fixed sides and a rear end wall, aroller for supporting the casing adjacent the rearend thereof, a front 'wall, said front wall having a relatively enlarged chamber adjacent the lower end ,6. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing, a roller for supporting the-,cas-

openings in the ends of the front ing adjacent the rear end thereof, a front wall, said front wall having a relatively large chamber adjacent the lower end thereof opening out through the bottom of the front Wall and communicating through an opening in the .rear Wall thereof with the vacuum chamber formed by the casing, a rotary brush in said chamber, vertically adjustable supporting plates positioned on the ends of the front'wall, said plates each havmg an elongated opening, a shaft on the brush projecting through the ends of the front wall and into said openings, whereby the brush is susceptible of independent adjustment, and a drive wheel for the brush operatively connected with the brush shaft. 7. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a casing having a front wall being hollow and having an inlet opening at its lower end connecting with an enlarged chamber opening through the rear of-the removable wall into the vacuum chamber formed by said casing, a rotary brush positioned in the enlarged chamber, of the hollow front wall, a shaft for the brush projecting throu h wa ll, and a supporting plateat each end of the front wall said plate beingfpivotally connected at one end and having an, adjustable securing connection at its opposite end and carrying a bearingintermediate its ends for this shaft. v

.8. In-a vacuum cleaner, the combination said front wall being hollow and havingan inlet opening at its lower end connectm with an enlarged chamber opening throng 1 the rear of the removable wall into the vacuum chamber formed by said casing, a rotary brush positioned in the enlarged chamber of the hollow front wall, a shaftfor the brush projecting through openings in the ends of the front wall, a supporting plate at each end of the front wall, said f plate being pivotally connected at one end and having an adjustable securing connection at its opposito'end and also having an opening intermediate its ends for said shaft, a. suitably supported friction wheel to engage the surface, a cooperating friction wheel carried by the brush shaft, and spring held'plates one at each side of the removable front wall, said spring held plates being slidably mounted relative to the pivotally supported plates and being connected wlth the shaft of the brush whereby to normally hold said traction wheels in engagement.

9. 111a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a horizontally disposed elongated casing having a vacuum chamber open at the front end, vacuum creating means, a supporting wheel atthe rear end of the casing, a front end wall for the vacuum chamber forming a dust inlet nozzle, a brush within said front wall adapted to engage the surface of the floor at the dust inlet opening, rearward Wall with said connected parts in place on projections on the ends of the front Wall the casing. I 10 overlying the sides of the casing, support In testimony whereof I afiix my signatureing wheels for the front end of the casing, in presence of tWo Witnesses. I said wheels having bearingsin said 'rear- MORRIS S. WVRIGHT. ward projections and operatively connected Witnesses:

with the brush for rotating the same, and HENRY P. MURRAY,

means for detachably connecting the front. F. SAWYER. 

